Paper, Pulp Packaging Representatives Discuss Proposals With Washington State Lawmakers
OLYMPIA, WA—February 23, 2015—Representatives of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the American Wood Council (AWC) and the Northwest Pulp & Paper Association (NWPPA) met here with state lawmakers last week to discuss legislative proposals that would affect the almost 30,000 workers they represent.
Industry representatives shared with lawmakers details of the industry’s positive economic impact on Washington and its commitment to sustainable manufacturing leadership under AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative. They also discussed how proposed carbon cap-and-trade legislation should account for industry leadership on reducing emissions.
“Paper and paper-based packaging facilities in Washington are leaders on sustainable manufacturing practices and make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources,” said Donna Harman, president and CEO of AF&PA. “Greenhouse gas legislation as proposed fails to recognize the industry’s sustainability leadership and we hope there will be changes to enable our industry to continue generating good jobs and economic growth for the state.”
One hundred and eighty-one pulp, paper, paper packaging and wood products facilities operate in Washington. These facilities employ almost 30,000 Washingtonians with an annual payroll of nearly $2 billion. Estimated state and local taxes paid by the industry total $203 million annually.
“The wood products industry in Washington directly provides thousands of family-wage jobs, most of which are located in and strengthen rural communities. Further, our products help mitigate carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas, and improve the health of the state’s forests,” said American Wood Council President and CEO Robert Glowinski. “We look forward to continuing to work with the state legislature to recognize the good work already being done to benefit the environment for future generations, as well as to maximize our industry’s contributions to the state.”
“We share the goal of continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state, recognizing our moral obligation to help protect our state’s beautiful environment,” said Chris McCabe, executive director of the Northwest Pulp & Paper Association. “However, there is a better way to achieve this goal than an expensive, complex new law and we look forward to discussing how to best achieve our shared goal with lawmakers.”
Joint AF&PA-AWC testimony is available here.
About American Forest & Paper Association
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.
About American Wood Council
The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, representing over 75 percent of an industry that provides approximately 400,000 men and women with family-wage jobs. AWC members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products.
About Northwest Pulp & Paper Association
Formed in 1956, the Northwest Pulp & Paper Association (NWPPA) is an Olympia-based trade association representing 14 member companies and 17 pulp and paper mills in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The association advocates at the state level for its members on legislative and regulatory issues, including environmental and energy policy. NWPPA members produce nearly eight million tons of paper products a year and provide approximately 10,000 predominantly union jobs that pay an average of more than $70,000 a year in wages and benefits.
Source: American Forest & Paper Association.
